Vol 1 Ch 11

“Ah, another dead end today…”

 

Lately, many customers came to view rooms, but none led to a contract. That made me more anxious and tired. Most places that start a business close within a year, and I had a feeling my office was among them…

 

“Sigh…”

 

After work, I came home and collapsed onto the sofa, my body feeling like lead. Leaning my face on the armrest, I pondered my livelihood.

 

On top of that, the strange incident of ShutUp looking for me gave me a migraine I didn’t have before. To have peace of mind, I had to get rid of one of my two identities. If I continued like this, both sides would surely be held hostage by that guy.

 

It was much simpler and safer to give up my in-game self than my real-life self. After making up my mind, I slowly sat up. Holding my phone with both hands, I sent a message to ShutUp with a solemn heart.

 

[I sold my access device because I had no living expenses, so I have no choice but to quit the game. Thank you for the boosts you gave me. I hope you meet a good guide and achieve great success. If you consider it as trading the Elf’s Breath Ring. and Relax skills, it won’t be too unfair. Please forget me.]

 

I wrote a long message with a perfect ending and sent it to him.

 

Believe it or not, I really planned to quit the game for a month. Then he would meet a new guide and forget me, and I would hunt with Hanwoo and transfer to another server once I reached level 50.

 

‘If it weren’t for the Relax skill, I would have returned the access device…’

 

The value of that skill was the only thing holding back my regret.

 

However, less than a minute after sending that message, ShutUp started calling me incessantly. Even when I rejected it, it kept coming, and when I didn’t answer, it came again.

 

“Wow… So clingy.”

 

Since I kept not answering, he sent me a message.

 

[Answer it. If you don’t, I’ll find you.]

 

Well, avoiding it wasn’t the solution. And he had a lot of money, so he might actually hire an errand service. I answered out of fear. I tried to make my voice sound as weak as possible, so he wouldn’t recognize me. Though, what was the point now?

 

“Hello…”

 

[Why are you quitting?]

 

“Well, I don’t have anywhere to get money right now. I sold my access device, what can I do?”

 

[Tell me your address. I’ll buy you one and send it.]

 

“Huh?”

 

For a moment, I was tempted by his offer to buy me an access device and almost gave him my address. Look at this meticulous guy. Was he trying to find out where I lived by making me find out where someone else lived?

 

But ShutUp spoke as if he would really buy it if I asked. He threatened that if I quit without his permission, he wouldn’t let it slide.

 

[How much do you need.]

 

“Huh?”

 

His kindness left me only with a string of “Huh?”s.

 

The building owner across the street was a person far from having an image of consideration or generosity. But now he was offering to buy me an access device and asking how much money I needed. I should have firmly refused, but I don’t know why greed started to creep in. If I get caught by him, my real life will be ruined…

 

“It’s okay. Why would you lend money to someone you don’t even know?”

 

[Depending on what you write, I might just give it to you. I need a guide.]

 

…He might just give it to me?

 

I was sprawled on the sofa, but I slowly got up.

 

The famous saying, ‘Human greed is endless, and people repeat the same mistakes,’ came to mind. I had to think that whatever he gave me would be collateral.

 

But he said he might just give it to me. He said he could easily buy a 1.5 million won access device, so I raised the amount a little.

 

“Really, you’ll just give it to me? I need 3 million won. I have many places to pay back…”

 

If he refused now, I could just say ‘I knew it’ and tell him to have fun playing before hanging up. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, and then a low voice pierced my ear.

 

[Give me your account number.]

 

My heart skipped a beat.

 

Honestly, a man shouldn’t get flustered by another man, but hearing what ShutUp was saying now, I thought my heart was going to drop.

 

Swallowing, I quickly racked my brain. I thought of a thousand and one reasons why I shouldn’t really accept this, and asked again, humbly, if I really didn’t have to repay it. ShutUp said yes, but instead, he set the condition of ‘maintaining our partnership until I cut it’.

 

[I like you. Especially your character.]

 

“Me? I’m just an ordinary character…”

 

I just went along with ShutUp’s mood.

 

Seo Munjun definitely only looked for men to enter his studio and wanted someone good-looking. He was someone who only went for good-looking people, just like himself. Well, my face isn’t visible in the game anyway. It was just words spoken by someone whose face I didn’t know, so I could just dismiss them and forget about it.

 

“Thanks.”

 

ShutUp let out a low breath at my answer and repeated, “I really like you.” Then he asked for my account number, which of course, I couldn’t give. It wasn’t a common name, and it felt too awkward. I thought of another way to get it.

 

“Give it to me as a game item. I’m more comfortable with that…”

 

[Items take some time. But, you sold your access key, right?]

 

“I can log in using a friend’s account. I’ll contact you when I log in.”

 

[Can’t you come today?]

 

I know exactly what I’d do if I logged in, would you go?

 

At his shameless remark, I unnecessarily pulled the phone away from my ear and scowled. Still, he was a benefactor giving me something, so I couldn’t refuse coldly and made a polite excuse.

 

“Sorry, I’ll log in as soon as possible.”

 

ShutUp’s behavior had definitely changed. It was very subtle, but a hint of kindness was in his tone. For someone like me who fixated on the word ‘kindness’, I could tell the change. And if I had to pinpoint when that change began… it was after we linked through sex.

 

He’s gay. I thought about the time he asked me to buy him condoms when I was at his place earlier.

 

‘Ah, this is bad…’

 

If he’s being nice to me because of the sex link, then ShutUp likes the GentleTouch user as a man. And…

 

“You even asked me where I live.”

 

No matter how I thought about it, it seemed dangerous. I came to Seoul to escape the Panty Guy, but it felt like I was running from a fox and falling into a tiger’s den.

 

‘What if he actually finds me?’

 

I became anxious. But then I reassured myself, thinking that if people could find anyone with just a phone number, no criminal would ever be caught.

 

Still, I wasn’t completely at ease, so I searched ‘mobile phone location tracking’ on the internet. I saw a post from a knowledge seeker saying that unless you knew someone’s Google ID, there was no way to actually find them.

 

Just in case, I turned off the GPS function on my phone. I didn’t know if he would actually give me the item, but I didn’t expect much. That was separate from the fluttering feeling.

 

–

 

“Hand it over.”

 

The next day.

 

As soon as I opened the office door, Jun appeared behind me, holding out his hand. But what was I supposed to hand over…? Could it be that he knew I was GentleTouch and was asking for the Relax fee? As I looked at him in confusion, he added, “The credit card I gave you yesterday.”

 

“I gave that to the person who was at your house yesterday.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“Anyway, I gave it to them because they were staying over.”

 

“Is anyone who sleeps over your lover? Your thinking is so simplistic.”

 

“I just have a healthy mindset.”

 

“Then if I sleep at Yoodo-ssi’s house, am I your lover too?”

 

“No, you know that just sleeping over doesn’t mean that…”

 

People were passing by, so I trailed off. Jun looked at me with an exasperated expression and was about to say something but closed his mouth.

 

But, was this what they call timing? A message chime rang from his phone. He glanced at his phone indifferently and let out a low curse. Then he made a call somewhere, but it seemed like they weren’t picking up.

 

“Ah, damn it!”

 

He cursed so loudly that passersby even glanced over. The owner of the hardware store next door came out to sweep the front of his shop, but upon hearing Jun curse like that, he went back inside with his broom.

 

After Jun tried calling somewhere a few times and couldn’t connect, he exclaimed “Agh!” and turned to me.

 

“Why did you give it to that bastard, Jun!”

 

“No, I told you they were like that… You were staying at the same house.”

 

“We’re not like that!”

 

“Quickly report the card lost. What’s the point of taking the card? They’ll just buy tteokbokki like me.”

 

“Here, look. Is this tteokbokki?”

 

Jun shoved his phone in front of my eyes. The screen clearly showed a payment notification, and for a moment, I couldn’t count the number of zeros. Instinctively, I took the phone and counted the ‘0’s with my finger. Six zeros meant a million. And in front of that, the number seven.

 

“Seven… hundred? Seven hundred? No, does that even make sense? What did he buy to spend seven hundred!”

 

My jaw dropped at the word ‘lump sum’ beneath an amount that far exceeded my card limit. The 7,000 won I spent on tteokbokki was truly insignificant.

 

“P-Police! We have to call 112. Since it’s Seoul, do I press 02?”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

Jun snatched his phone back and called somewhere else again. He was blocking the card. Trembling, I grabbed my phone to call the police, when a large hand covered mine.

 

“It’s fine. Just consider it a cleansing.”

 

“No! That amount is considered a cleansing?”

 

“Then what, should I kill them?”

 

“You don’t have to kill them, but you should catch them! Catch them and, huh? Take back what they bought and cancel the card!”

 

“Anyone would think it’s your card.”

 

He then said frankly, “It’s probably for the best. They kept showing up and bothering me, so it’s good they’re gone,” and headed towards his building.

 

Just as Jun seemed to be heading into his building, he said, “Ah,” and changed direction. He strode back and stood in front of me, who was frozen in place.

 

“Did you look?”

 

“The card thief?”

 

“No, the number I gave you.”

 

“Ah…”

 

He was asking if I had looked for me. To avoid fanning the flames, I vaguely said I had tried to look up the number but couldn’t find it.

 

“Hmm… Should I really contact a private investigator?”

 

“Th-that’s illegal!”

 

My voice rose involuntarily. I started trying to persuade him with a flimsy argument, fearing he might actually hire one.

 

“Whoever that person is, think about it. If someone found me like that, it would be really creepy, contemptible, disgusting, and sickening. Isn’t it better to just ask them honestly?”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Yes. Conversely, imagine someone stalking Seo Munjun and waiting in front of your building. How would that feel?”

 

“Isn’t it okay if someone as handsome as me is stalking you?”

 

He approached his car, which was as sleek as himself. Then, he turned his face this way and that in the car window, checking his reflection, and smiled proudly. It was a truly annoying sight. Even though his words weren’t wrong.

 

“Putting that aside, some people don’t like others showing up in front of their homes.”

 

“Do you also feel the same way, Yoodo-ssi?”

 

“Of course, I do. But could you please call me by my name properly?”

 

Jun ignored my last reprimand and just pretended to be oblivious. Seeing his thoughtful expression, I figured he’d eventually give up on his own.

 

Vrrrng. Vrrrng.*

 

Just then, my phone rang in my pocket. I thought it was a customer and checked the screen, but it was Hanwoo.

 

“Oh, hello.”

 

[Hey, when are you logging in today?]

 

“Later.”

 

I answered briefly and scanned my surroundings. Fortunately, Jun was heading into his building across the street. After closing my office door, I spoke comfortably.

 

“Hey, I won’t be able to log in for a while.”

 

[Why? Heh heh. Because of ShutUp? Are you having second thoughts now that you’re holding hands with guys?]

 

“Stop it. My stomach hurts because I haven’t even eaten breakfast.”

 

[What level are you?]

 

It would probably increase a bit if I logged in, but it was 42 when Moment helped me defeat the level 60 boss. Eight more levels to go until 50.

 

“I’m at 42, but it might be a bit higher if I log in. If ShutUp hunted well.”

 

[That’s fast. As expected, a guide’s fate depends on the Psychic. So, when will you log in?]

 

“I’m going to switch servers after I reach level 50. I learned the Relax skill too, so I’ll be loved on other servers too.”

 

“Ah, right. You learned Relax. If you break up with ShutUp, will you partner with me?”

 

“No.”

 

“Ah, why?”

 

Hanwoo kept whining, and it seemed like the call wouldn’t end, but then I heard someone calling him from the other end of the receiver. Eventually, Hanwoo hung up, saying he’d call later.